Dick Spotswood: Marin GOP's same-sex marriage endorsement a bold move

MARIN'S REPUBLICAN PARTY just made a bold move making it unique in America. The local GOP became the first Republican county central committee in the country to support legalizing same-sex marriage.

It's an example of the Marin Republicans' effort to broaden their constituency consistent with the libertarianism that's asserting itself within party ranks.

According to central committee chair Kevin Krick of Fairfax, "A core tenet of Republican philosophy is that personal freedom is a right of every citizen and that includes the right to choose whom to marry, regardless of gender."

If Marin Republicans return to political relevancy they'll be a power when the electorate is already divided.

Think of the 2014 contest for two seats on the Board of Supervisors or the potential Susan Adams recall. Delivering almost 20 percent of the vote is always relevant.

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THE Ross Valley Sanitary District was in chaos after the resignation of its former general manager, Brett Richards, who is in jail facing charges of embezzlement and money laundering. From the day he was appointed to the district's board, past Fairfax mayor Frank Egger was a Richards critic.

Just when the agency's former GM fled to the Philippines and the agency teetered on bankruptcy, Egger was made board president. Given his years in local government, it was no wonder that Egger would do a first-rate job. He was key in putting the district on an even keel.

Adhering to the old adage, "no good deed goes unpunished," last Wednesday Egger was deposed as president after only one term by his supposed ally, director Mary Sylla.

Traditionally, district directors serve two sequential one-year terms as president. The vote was 3-2. Sylla joined old Richards supporters Pat Guasco and Peter Sullivan in dumping Egger and giving her the gavel. It's a victory for the district's old guard and a sign that change comes slowly to the troubled sewage agency.

Kinsey was an enthusiastic supporter. Rice favored the plan while expressing reservations.

Eklund says that the abstention was her duty. That's true given that her bosses, the council members from Marin's cities and towns, were themselves either undecided or reluctant to take a public position on the highly contentious issue.

Of Marin's 11 municipalities, two, Novato and Sausalito, publicly voted to support Plan Bay Area and its goal to promote transit-centered high-density housing. Of the other nine, one, Corte Madera, voted "no project alternative." That's effectively a "no" vote. The other eight cities took a duck by officially voting "no position."

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AT the last meeting of the "working group" making recommendations on the proposed Highway 101-Greenbrae-Corte Madera freeway project, a surprising revelation was made by Transportation Authority of Marin's executive director, Dianne Steinhauser.

She indicated that Supervisor Steve Kinsey, a former TAM chairman and longtime MTC commissioner, if asked, would request that the MTC extend the process of finalizing alternatives for the $143 million scheme for "two or three years."

Given the divisions over both the overall merits and the specifics of the Caltrans-led effort, more time to devise a rational blueprint makes sense. It's big news, since until then, the impression was that the freeway plan had to be finalized by Sept. 30.

Given his close relationship with powerful MTC executive director Steve Heminger, if Kinsey wants an extension, it will happen. TAM commissioners should now promptly ask Kinsey to secure the continuance.

Columnist Dick Spotswood of Mill Valley now shares his views on local politics twice weekly in the IJ. His email address is spotswood@comcast.net.